The GreenFin Summit is a working session covering two half days that will address the disconnect between publicly held companies and their investors regarding environmental, social and governance metrics, and how to ensure disclosure is decision-useful and relevant to stakeholders to successfully manage risks and seize opportunities in investment decision-making. Back by popular demand, this year’s event has been expanded from one half day to two half days, Monday, Feb. 3 at 1:30 p.m. through Tuesday, Feb. 4, at 12:15 p.m., followed by a lunch for all GreenFin attendees. Participation is by invitation only, resulting in a curated group of about 200 leaders from publicly traded companies, mainstream investors and NGOs. Trucost, part of S&P Global, and GreenBiz Group are pleased to join forces to create the Summit, bringing together publicly traded companies, mainstream investors and others to align their understanding and use of ESG data. 

2019 saw an unprecedented growth in interest in and consideration for ESG (environmental, social and governance) issues from companies, investors and now government, with the first congressional hearing on ESG issues in the United States held in July. This trend signals a growing recognition that climate change is not only detrimental to our environment, but also to our economic system, and that many issues that were once considered non-financial are now seen as financially material. Corporate disclosure is key to understanding risks and their corresponding exposures and opportunities. Hear from Ceres CEO and President Mindy Lubber why disclosure is so important, what new legislation could mean for companies and how your company can prepare — and lead — in this new age of transparency.

Building consensus inclusively among government, NGOs and business is key to realizing the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. But it’s not always clear how corporates and investors can act on fulfilling these goals, despite the necessity of participation from the private sector. Hear from Cornerstone Capital CEO Erika Karp on the role business can and should play in advancing and achieving these goals, and drive business excellence at the same time. 

Corporate sustainability professionals are increasingly struggling with how to prioritize ESG ratings and manage their responses to them. SustainAbility’s most recent Rate the Raters research explored the investor perspective of ESG ratings through a survey and series of interviews. This session will explore highlights from the research and perspectives from leading investors and companies to explore the following questions:

• What do investors really think about ESG ratings?
• What characteristics make a good ESG rating in investors eyes?
• How do investors use ESG ratings to evaluate companies?
• What will the future of ESG ratings bring?

Participants will leave the panel session with insights into which ratings investors find most credible and how they can make their internal ratings response process more efficient and effective.

Is the harmonization of ESG standards and frameworks desirable, practical or possible? Is it what companies and capital markets need to accelerate progress? How can companies and investors better understand the strategic fit, alignment and differences at a practical level? There is a proliferation of sustainability reporting standards and frameworks to choose from, causing confusion in the marketplace. Is this material – or is it a matter of finding the right tool to solve the right problem? How can companies learn about the objectives of each reporting organization? Come learn about the move towards alignment and dispel the myths of ‘disharmonization’.

Despite the Sustainable Development Goals and a multitude of well resourced ESG initiatives, we are still not bending the curve to address society’s global sustainability imperative.  Although stakeholders want to transition towards a sustainable future they do not know how, in part because decision makers often focus solely on financial information and ignore the value of our essential relationships with nature and people. The session will point the way on how to sustainability executives can pivot business models towards a more sustainable and prosperous future.

The board of directors is responsible for setting the course of business strategy, taking advantage of disruptions, anticipating risks that could undermine the strategy and business model, and promoting the long-term success of the company. "Business as usual" is no longer relevant in protecting and creating value in the disruptive social, economic and environmental issues that are challenging the assumptions companies have made in the past about the availability of resources, supply chains and consumer preferences. Many business processes tend to look to the past to predict the future but those models are increasingly coming under scrutiny and failing, leaving companies unprepared for the current challenges they face. Board education has typically focused on maximizing shareholder value over the short-term and not given enough attention to "externalities" and their potential to destroy value and harm a company’s brand and reputation. This session takes a fresh look at how board training needs to be made fit for the 21st century. 

This session will look through the lens of a company’s business model to consider impact, dependencies and insights from global companies on how these issues are being tackled in the boardrooms of successful companies. The speakers will bring legal, governance and financial expertise to provide an understanding of the changes happening in boardrooms around the world. They will share findings of the WBCSD’s Governance project which has involved interviews with non-executive directors across 12 countries. 

This session will help sustainability professionals find solutions to engaging with the board through a simulation of real challenges companies are facing today so that participants can take away effective strategies for collaborating with boards. The key is to demonstrate how ESG issues are critical to business success and should be embedded within mainstream business processes and decision-making. The session will showcase strategies and tools that can be used to help strengthen governance and promote sustainable performance.

Held Thursday afternoon, Feb. 6, this half-day event offers practical solutions to improve your sustainability reporting. Learn how to make the most of the GRI Standards for your organization, share your knowledge and connect with your peers. The program will include information for reporting professionals of all levels of experience. Whether you want to focus on the fundamentals such as materiality and stakeholder engagement or delve into emerging reporting expectations such as TCFD, this is the day for you to learn and recharge. Join us and interact with GRI experts directly to answer your specific reporting needs. Register here — get 10% off using code GRI20WGBZ.